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Reese Reels in D3football Team of the Week Honor

First award of his career

10/27/2026 9:21:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the fourth time this season, the Illinois Wesleyan University football team landed one of its student-athletes on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Senior Bryce Reese (Waterloo, Ill.-Waterloo) became the latest selection Tuesday morning, Oct. 28, earning the accolade for his play on special teams.

Reese came up with a pivotal tackle to preserve IWU's 44-0 shutout over Elmhurst, Oct. 24. It was the program's first shutout since Sept. 2024, while EU's 123 yards of total offense were the fewest allowed since October of 2021.

Reese is the fourth Titan to garner D3football recognition this season, joining Joey DeMaio (Sept. 15), Will Nazha (Oct. 6), and Matt Worthington (Oct. 13). This year's four honorees are the most since the 2022 campaign when Kevin Graham, Frank Roti (twice), and Anthony Wachal Jr. combined for four selections. Overall, he represents the program's 21st all-time selection.

With Illinois Wesleyan up 37-0, the Bluejays took a kickoff return up the Titan sideline. With one man to beat and an end zone less than 40 yards away, Reese tracked down the returner and made a huge tackle from behind to keep the Bluejays at bay. The play was followed by another strong defensive stand by the Titans as stood EU up on third and short as Marcheon Griffin and Conner Wagner came up with a stop at the line of scrimmage. Griffin and Mathew Gasior followed with a six-yard sack on fourth down to keep Elmhurst off the board.

Illinois Wesleyan is off this weekend, enjoying a Halloween bye, before returning to the field for its home finale Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff against North Park University, which will serve as the second annual Salute to Service game, is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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